Gary Cook dam
Gary Cook
Gary Cook is a private earth dam located in Marble Hill, Missouri, designed by the USDA NRCS with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1997, this dam stands at a height of 30.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 132 acre-feet. It serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, grade stabilization, and recreation, with a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating.
Situated along Cedar Branch in Bollinger County, Gary Cook spans 434 feet in length and covers a surface area of 4 acres. Its uncontrolled spillway has a width of 15 feet, and the dam has a drainage area of 172.8 square miles. Despite being of stone core type with a soil foundation, the dam has not been rated for condition assessment and last underwent inspection in November 1999. With no associated structures and no outlet gates, the dam remains under private ownership and is not regulated by the state.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Gary Cook presents an intriguing case study in dam engineering and management. From its construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to its role in flood risk reduction and recreational activities, this earth dam in Missouri offers valuable insights into the complexities of maintaining infrastructure for water management purposes. As discussions around climate change and water resource sustainability continue to evolve, understanding the design, function, and condition of structures like Gary Cook is crucial for ensuring the safety and resilience of our water systems.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Gary Cook -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Fork Saline Creek Near Perryville | 20 cfs | → |
| Little St. Francis River At Fredericktown | 3 cfs | → |
| Castor River At Zalma | 147 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Mill Creek | 96 cfs | → |
| St. Francis River Near Saco | 84 cfs | → |
| Mississippi River At Chester | 270,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gary Cook.
Boat launches
- State Highway U Cape Girardeau County
- Cape Girardeau County
- Front Street 677, Grand Tower
- Red Star Access
- Water Street Chester
Campgrounds
- Lake Girardeau Conservation Area - Mdc
- Trail Of Tears State Park
- Silver Mines Recreation Area
- Silver Mines
- Devils Backbone Park
- Hawn State Park
Paddle runs
- Forest Boundary At North Section Line Of Sec 4, T33n, R5e To Forest Boundary At South Section Line Of Sec 35, T32n, R5e
- 1/2 Mile Downstream Of Confluence With Kinkaid Creek To Confluence With Mississippi River, Approx 4 Miles South Of Grand Tower, Il
- 1 Mile West Of Alto Pass, Il To 1/2 Mile South Of Confluence With Clear Creek, West Of Trail Of Tears State Forest
- Markam Spring Recreation Area To Nf Boundary
Track Gary Cook in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Gary Cook
Where does the data for Gary Cook come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Low hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Gary Cook.